Mineral County, Nevada

Mineral County was carved out of Esmeralda County in 1911 shortly after the county seat of Esmeralda was moved to Goldfield in 1907. Its name came from the surrounding area, which is heavily mineralized. Hawthorne has always been its County seat. The County is listed as Nevada Historical Marker 16. The marker is located on U.S. Highway 95 at Walker Lake.

They call Hawthorne "America's Patriotic Home," and the red, white and blue streets and American flags blowing in the breeze stand as a testament to Hawthorne's great national pride. Part of that pride is rooted in the Hawthorne Army Depot, an ammunition storage site south of nearby Walker Lake State Recreation Area. Construction began on this facility in 1928, and it served as an ammunition staging area for World War II. It is said to be the largest facility of its kind anywhere in the world, covering more than 147,000 acres of terrain. Additionally, the historic 1942 USO AKA Hawthorne Convention Center has just been restored and has special events for locals and visitors alike.

Originally established in 1881 as a division point on the Carson and Colorado Railroad and remained a modestly sized community until it was selected to host a national arsenal during World War II. Only having a few hundred residents since its founding, the population quickly grew to 13,000 by 1944, hosting more than 7,000 armed forces and civilian workers during the war.

Today, roughly 3,200 people call Hawthorne home. Several mountain ranges surround the community, protecting Hawthorne from extreme weather and allowing for mild temperatures and nearly 365 days of sunshine every year. It's the kind of environment that encourages outdoor enjoyment, and around here, the heart of outdoor recreation is at Walker Lake State Recreation Area. The lake, fed from the north by the Walker River, was once part of Glacial Lake Lahontan, a prehistoric sea that covered much of Nevada. Those looking for other incredible adventure options should search no further as Mineral County has over 1,000 miles of unfenced, dirt roads and trails. Hawthorne truly is the perfect gateway to all your OHV, ATV and four-wheel drive excursions.

If it's history you're after, visitors to Hawthorne can get a closer look at some of the old ammo stored here with a trip to the Hawthorne Ordinance Museum. Its also a great place to see a variety of military uniforms, photos and memorabilia. If you're staying overnight, there are several hotels and motels to chose from, as well as restaurants that suit any craving.